Hunan hotels cut off Qunar over unauthorized discounts

200 Hunan hotels have suspended supply to Qunar for offering unauthorized 50% discounts on hotel rates on its platform.

Some 200 Hunan hotels have suspended supply to Qunar as the Hunan Province Tourist Hotel Association (HTHA) is working out differences with Qunar on the latter offering unauthorized 50% discounts on hotel rates on its platform.

In a statement issued on April 30, HTHA accused Qunar for the “malicious” and “disruptive” act of offering the room rate discounts without the hotels’ permission. Qunar countered with a statement on the following day that the move was meant to provide better customer service and it has plans to step up the discount campaign.

HTHA stated on May 2 that more than 200 hotels in Hunan had stopped supplying Qunar and would not resume until an agreement could be reached through ongoing negotiations.
Hunan Shennong Hotel’s vice president Ping She said Qunar had sold their rooms at 50% discounts without any prior notice. By the time the hotel discovered their own rooms had been “re-priced” it was too late.

HTHA is demanding that Qunar take down all 50% discounts offers for Hunan hotels. While those offers for star-rated hotels including Huatian Hotels, Shennong Hotel and Saint-Tropez Hotel have been unlisted as of the evening of May 2, some smaller business hotels remained in the listing.

HTHA said they were still negotiating for the complete withdrawal of all Hunan hotel discounts, but expected the issue would be resolved and the products would be relisted in a few days. (Translation by David)